Module IV Computer Hardware Unit 1

Text Study: The Structure of a Computer.

Additional Text: The Bus.

Grammar: Types of Questions. Word Order.

Text Study

I. Pre-reading Exercises

1. Repeat the words in chorus:

Central Processing Unit (CPU), circuit, multiplication, addition, to identify, to execute, to fetch, to load, route.

2. While reading the text you will come across a number of international words. Try to guess what Ukrainian words they remind of you:

Data, calculation, electronic, arithmetic, program, instruction, peripheral, printer.

3. Pay attention to some grammatical points:

1) All the other components work together by transferring data over the bus. 2) Sometimes, the CPU will arrange for data be taken from an input device, transfer through the controller, move over the bus and get loaded directly into the CPU. 3) Data being output follows the same route in reverse – moving from the CPU, over the bus, through a controller and out to a device. 4) In other cases, the CPU may get a device controller to move data directly into, or out of, main memory. 5) Instructions and data are stored in main memory.

II. Reading

Read the text and be ready to find in the text the answers to the following questions:

• What is the structure of a computer?

• What is the function of the CPU?

The Structure of a Computer

A computer contains several major subsystems such as the Central Processing Unit (CPU), memory, and peripheral device controllers. These components all plug into a "Bus". The bus is essentially a communications highway; all the other components work together by transferring data over the bus.

The active part of the computer, the part that does calculations and controls all the other parts is the "Central Processing Unit" (CPU). The Central Processing Unit (CPU) contains electronic clocks that control the timing of all operations; electronic circuits that carry out arithmetic operations like addition and multiplication; circuits that identify and execute the instructions that make up a program; and circuits that fetch the data from memory. Instructions and data are stored in main memory. The CPU fetches them as needed.

Peripheral device controllers look after input devices, like keyboards and mice, output devices, like printers and graphics displays, and storage devices like disks. The CPU and peripheral controllers work together to transfer information between the computer and its users. Sometimes, the CPU will arrange for data be taken from an input device, transfer through the controller, move over the bus and get loaded directly into the CPU.

Data being output follows the same route in reverse – moving from the CPU, over the bus, through a controller and out to a device. In other cases, the CPU may get a device controller to move data directly into, or out of, main memory.

Vocabulary Notes

subsystem – підсистемна частина системи, компонент системи.

a device [dI'vais] – прилад, механізм; апарат, машина

to plug – затискати, закупорювати, включать в сіть, вставлять вилку в розетку.

the bus – шина

highway ['haIweI] – головна лінія зв’язку, основний шлях, магістраль

to transfer ['trxnsfq(:)] – переносити, переміщати

to contain – включати в себе.

circuit – 1) цикл, сукупність операцій; комплекс вправ 2) електр. схема, коло.

to identify [aI'dentifaI] – 1) встановлювати тотожність, вирізняти 2) розпізнавати; встановлювати особистість 3) співпадати.

to execute ['eksIkju:t] – виконувати, реалізовувати.

to store [stL] – 1) зберігати 2) вміщувати, акумулювати.

to fetch – витягати, видобувати (дані), доставляти, приносити.

input /output device – пристрої вводу/виводу

to arrange [q'reIndZ] – 1) приводити в порядок, розміщати 2) класифікувати, систематизувати 3) організовувати, підготовлювати.

to move – 1) рухатись, пересуватися 2) переїжджати, переселятися.

a route [rHt] – комп. траса, дорога; маршрут; тракт ( передачі інформації